Cellulose ether composition



Patented Dec. 31, 1940. I

" CELIIULOSEI a'rnrn. COMPOSITION EarleL. Kropscott, Midland, Mich., assignor to The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich., a corporation of Michigan No Drawing. Application January 26, 1940,

Serial No. 315,753

10 Claims. 31. 106-40) 'l'his inventionrelates to cellulose ether compositions, and specifically it is concerned with plasticized water-soluble cellulose ethers.

In order to deposit plasticized films of water- 5 soluble cellulose ethers, it is necessary that the plasticizer itself be soluble in water and in aqueous solutions of the cellulose ether. The plasticizer should be further characterized by low volatility, so as to remain in the deposited film, and by having little hygroscopicitw If the plasticizer is too volatile, the film of cellulose ether becomes increasingly brittle, just as in the case of the water-insoluble cellulose ethers. If theplasticizer is too hygroscopic, the deposited: cellulose ether films are not stable in the sense that they gradually soften and become weak in humid atmospheres, and harden and gain strength "in dry atmospheres. It is, ofcourse, desirable to maintain approximately constant the hardness and 20 strength of films of plasticized water-soluble celmoisture must-be kept down.

The plasticizers heretofore employed have each lulose ethers, and therefore the plasticizer must be but slightly hygroscopic. Some moisture is desirable inthe-film, as it appears to aid in flexibilizingthe cellulose ether, but the, amount of failed in at least one of the above-outlined requirements. Thus, ethylene glycol is too volatile,-and water-soluble cellulose ether films containing it gradually lose their flexibility and become relatively brittle, due to itsfevaporation' from the film. Similarly, glycerine has been found to be too hygroscopic and to soften of water-soluble cellulose ethers unduly in humid 5 atmospheres, If the amount 'of glycerine is re duced to' minimize the ill effects resulting from its hygroscopic nature, the film is found to be insufliciently plasticized to be flexible.

' The water-soluble cellulose ethers, including 0 piethyl cellulose, certain lowly substituted ethyl celluloses, hydroxy ethyl cellulose; salts of cellu-.

.lose glycolic acid, and the like, have a. place of importance as free films or foils. and ascoati'ngs for paper. Due to the non-toxic nature of these cellulose ethers" and to their propertiesof being grease-proof and flexible over a wide range of temperaturesflv'vhen properly plasticized), they can be employed advantageously for wrapping or packaging foodstuffs, especially greasy or oily foods such as butter, lard, potato chips, nuts, and the like. When plasticized to provide the flexibility required-for these suggested uses, itis-important that the plasticizer be one which is itself resistant to greases and oils. 1

It isaccordingly among the objects of the invention to provide a plasticized composition ot a water-soluble cellulose ether, wherein. the plasticizer iswater-soluble, is non-volatile. and of low hygroscopicity as compared with glycol and glyc- 0 erlne, and is not compatible with oils, greases;

' ticizers, when employed and fats. A further'object is to provide sucha water-soluble cellulose ether composition which is capable of forming films or paper coatings whichare stable as to flexibility and strength through a wide change in temperature and atmospheric humidity conditions. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the descrip-- tion proceeds. 1

To' the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, consists of the 10 features hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out inthe claims, the following description setting forth in detail several approved combinations of ingredients embodying the invention, such disclosed combinations constituting, however, but some of various forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

It has now been found thatwater-soluble cellulose ethers may be plasticized' to attain the desiredresults by incorporating therewith a polyhydric aliphatic alcohol containing from 4 to 6 hydroxyl groups. Such plasticizers include the tol, arabinitol, and similar pentitols; and manni to], sorbitoL- and similar hexitol s. =These 'plas-.

in compositions of water-soluble cellulose ethers, retain sufiicient moisture in the cellulose ether to keep-films and coatings thereof flexible under conditions of low atmospheric humidity, and yet do not pick up so much moisture at high humidities that the film or coating will be unduly weakened. These plas- 1 compounds 'erythr'itol and penta-erythritol; xyliticizers also prevent shrinking and curling of dimensionally stable through a. wide range of of the weight of water solublemellulose ether present. Thus, incompositions consisting principally'of the cellulose ether and plasticizer, the latter varies from about 5 to about .40 per cent of the dry weight of the composition.

The efi'ect of some representatives of the herein-claimed plasticizers on the strength of methyl ,cellulose films, under various conditions of hu- 'midity' is given in the following Table I, and is there compared with the effect of glycerine and of ethylene glycol when similarly employed. The data in Table I are divided into threeseriesof tests. The tests of series 1 were made on plasticized methyl cellulose filmswhich had beenconditioned under uniformfconditions at 70 F. in an atmosphere of per cent relative humidity. The

stated amount of plasticizer is based on the total -.composition weight. The tests of series 2 were a made to determine the effect of varying moisture nally reweighed. The tests of series 3 were made on similar films which had been heated for 14 days at 70 C., and then conditioned at 70 F. and

cellulose plasticized with various polyhydric alcohols containing 4 or "more hydroxyl groups. Other water-soluble cellulose ethers may be substituted for themethyl cellulose oi the examples, with equally desirable results. Likewise, there may be employed as plasticizers polyhydric alcohols containing irom 4 too hydroxyl groups, other than those shown in the examples. Fur- The invention has been illustrated with respect to compositions of water-soluble methyl uble methyl cellulose plasticized with from 5 to 60 percent of its weight oi sorbitol.

50 per cent relative humidity. The tensile ther examples, both of the water-soluble cellustrength results before and after heating give lose ethers and of the polyhydric alcohol plastian indication of the volatility of the plasticizer, 'cizers, have been enumerated hereinbefore. since loss of plasticizer on heating will be 101- The new products are flexible, strong, resistantv lowed by film properties which approach those 01' to greases, oils and fats, and. are not seriously the unplasticized'methyl cellulose. In the table, or adversely affected by changes in atmospheric yield point and tensile strength values are reporthumidity or temperature over a wide range of ed in terms of kilograms per square centimeter such changes. a of original cross section Other modes of applying the principle of my TAsLa I gems 1 seii espiag lliire Series 3, stabgig7o C.14

Piasticlzer, lrlnd Amount Yield Tensile gg? g 2 Yield Tensile Elongation, point strength pemht humility humhflty point strength percent oso moo so an 21 100 900 20 15 am 835 as 4.8 as 545 780 22 15 505 610 2] 5.1 22 575 770 25 15 too can as as as 506 18 so as: 1282 a 2'2 m o 700 ooo 2o btol so 365 675 45 so 40 365 51s- 20 mi 400 no as 5.4 19 so: we 32 30 e45 4.0 22 no lice e 30 205 405 50 6.9 66 485 690 26 Et ylene glycol 30 410 1020 60 3,3 700 900 20 35 For comparison.

I Too soit to handle. g

From the foregoing table, it is observed that invention may be employed instead of those ex- I ,films of methyl cellulose containing about 15 per plained, change being made as regards the macent of one of the new plasticizers therefor are terials employed, provided the ingredients stated not subject to as wide changes in moisture conby any of the following claims or the equivalent tent as are those containing glycerine and glycol of such stated ingredients be employed.

(series 2). They are not as soft as are films con- I therefore particularly point out and distinctly taining glycerine (series 1). They are not volaclaim as my invention: tilized from the film as readily as is glycol (se-. 1. Ass. new composition of matter, a waterries 3). soluble cellulose ether plasticized with a com- As further illustration of the moderate softenpatible, water-soluble polyhydric aliphatic alcoing efiect of the new plasticizers as compared hol containing from 4 to 6 hydroxyl groups, inwith glycerine when incorporated in methyl celelusive. lulose films, the following data are given in Ta- 2. As a new composition of. matter, a waterble II. In the table is plotted the relation besoluble cellulose ether plasticized with from 5 to tween plasticizer concentration (based on the to 60 per cent of its weight of a compatible, watertal composition weight) andyield point hardness soluble polyhydric aliphatic alcohol containing index. The hardness index is expressed numerifrom 4 to 6 hydroxyl groups, inclusive.

n cally as the hardness of a plasticized cellulose 3. As a new composi on f matter. Voter-50111- ether as compared with the'hardness or an unble methyl cellulose placticized with a compatiplasticized film of the same cellulose ether taken 'ble, water-soluble polyhydric aliphatic alcohol as 100. ,Since yield point is a measure of hardcontaining from 4 to 6 hydroxyl groups, inclusive.

ness, the hardness index may be computed on the 4. As a new composition of matter, water-solubasisor relative yield points of the compositions. ble methyl cellulose plasticized with from 5 to 60 This parison is here designated as yield per cent of its weight of a compatible, water- Point hardness in x soluble polyhydric aliphatic alcohol containing TABLE from 4 to 6 hydroxyl groups, inclusive. I 5. As a new composition 01! matter, a waterw point hardness index soluble cellulose ether plasticized with lrom '5 to Emma; 60 per cent of its weight of mannitol.

Pe t 0 5 0 15 m 25 30 A3 a new composition 01 matter, a watersoluble cellulose ether plasticired with from 5 to Pcnta-er hritol c0 s2 71 72 e1 e3 60 per cent of its-weight of. sorbitol.

1o stiiiiti..:::::::::::::::::::::::::: 1% 31 33 ii 3% 2i 2? M a new mmwiilon matter, water-s01- Giyoerine' 100 82 as so 45 a1 a0 uble methyl cellulose plasticized with from 5 to l 60 per cent of its weight of mannitol.

For comparison. a 8. As a new composition of matter, water-sol- 9; A plasticflzed film of a water-Somme celiucellulose, wherein the plasticizer is a compatibie lose ether. wherein the plasticizer is & compatipolyhydric aliphatic alcohei containing from me polyhyszma alipmtis aicoimx centaining fmm to 6 hydroml groups, inclusive the said p1ast-= m 155 hwmxyl gmmps immawe, the saici'pm ti mm being present in amount between 5 and; 60

@ @izer being present in samsmm between-i 5 and 66 per @Gni; 0f the weigm M the said methyl cellu 5 per cent @i the weight @f the said cefimmse lease. ether. 1 I 1 'L. mwscafi'. 

